Small Boat Restoration

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Bahamas Dinghy HENNING Thwarts and Paint

26 Sep 26:

Fastened the thwarts with Fair Wind Fasteners silicon bronze screws

First coat of Kirby See Red on the rudder and tiller.

Zero cats required.

Log of HENNING

Vintage Market Oars

26 Sep 26:

Picked up some nice oars at the Vintage Market. They had a little tip rot so we trimmed a bit then sanded.

Bahamas DInghy HENNING Floorboard Installation

26 Sep 26:

We installed the floorboard in the Bahamas Dinghy today, the first step was to countersink the ols screw hole for new silicon bronze fasteners from Fair Wind Fasteners. The old screw was dome top and other random heads and I prefer to not have things sticking up where feet are shuffling around, so we went the countersunk route. We used #10 1 1/4 inch Frearson head screws.

The dinghy only had this one floorboard when we got it, and those are the only fastener holes we see in the bilge, so the design is interesting. It makes sense in this 10 foot dinghy that the only place one might want to step is along the centerline, anywhere else might tip us overboard. The build is sturdy as well, so we are taking a SWAG* that there were never any addition floorboards between the center floorboard and the risers. And it we like having access to sponge out any water that finds its way into the bilge.

The Assistant explored the Boat Works today, and we were pleased that he didn't find a burrow to hide in. When he got sleepy he jumped into his pet stroller and let me know he was ready to go back inside.

Log of HENNING

68 Years Later....

26 Sep 26:

We got a message earlier this year, "My father stumbled upon your blog and noticed that you had written up a small piece a few years ago regarding the Sailing Surfboard. When he was 12 years old he and his father built one, he is now in his 80’s. He has been looking for many years to see if he could find the plans again and saw that you had them at one time. Do you still have a copy of these? If so, would it be possible to get a duplicate from you? Thank you for your help."

It took a while to find the plans in the archives and longer to put them in the mail, but they are on the way. We hope they find fun in Idaho!

These patterns will also serve as a good guide to develop the wooden Sunfish plans and patterns, a project we plan to complete in 2027, in time for the 75th Anniversary of the Sunfish in 2028.